Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)

November 17, 2011
• EPA sponsored an evaluation of 

the Regional Planning 

Organization (RPO) Program

• Goals: 

• Review past RPO roles and 

work related to regional haze

RPO Program Evaluation

work related to regional haze

• Inform future EPA and 

partner decisions and work 

to address regional air 

quality planning and 

technical support needs
• RPOs’ roles in support of regional haze state and tribal 

implementation plan development and the broader U.S. air 

quality management system

• Perceived value of the RPOs and benefits of RPO support, as 

well as disadvantages and inefficiencies

• Perspectives on existing and future needs for regional air 

RPO Evaluation Focus and Scope

• Perspectives on existing and future needs for regional air 

quality data management, modeling, and planning

• Design attributes and technical support needs of options for 

supporting future multi-jurisdictional air quality management 

• Trends in RPO funding from various sources over time
• Evaluation conducted December 2010 – July 2011

• Contractor support from Ross & Associates and IEc

• Approach:

 Reviewed background documents

 Developed a logic model and evaluation questions based on 

input from EPA

RPO Evaluation Approach

input from EPA

 Conducted ~38 interviews 

(RPOs, MJOs, States, Tribes, EPA HQ and Regional Offices)

 Reviewed comments submitted by National Tribal Air Association

 Analyzed data and identified findings

 Selected sections reviewed by RPOs to ensure accuracy

 Final draft of report completed in July 2011
1996 1997 1999 2000–2001 2005 2007 2008

Grand 

Canyon 

Visibility 

Transport 

Commission 

Report

Regional Haze Rule 

Amendments

State Implementation 

Plans (SIPs) Due/First 

SIP Submittals

Most EPA Funding 

for RPOs Ends

Central and Eastern 

RPOs Formed

EPA 

Regional Haze 

Rule

EPA Starts 

Funding 

Regional 

Planning 

Organizations 

(RPOs)

Western Regional 

Air Partnership 

Formed

RPO Technical Support: 

Monitoring and Data Analysis | Emissions Inventories | Modeling of Control Strategies | Tool Development 

(4+ years and ongoing)

RPOs Develop Regional Planning 

Framework (First 1-2 years)

States and Tribes Develop and Submit 

Implementation Plans 

(41 SIPs submitted as of 3/2011)

Next SIPs due 2018
Regional Planning Organizations (RPO)
Regional-Level Policies : Regional Haze and CSAPR

Visibility is more of priority in the West; CSAPR in the Midwest and East.
• RPOs met a clear need for regional technical support and 

collaborative forums for cost-effective air quality planning

• Existing RPO-MJO structure can inform future design

- Use a combination of permanent staff, in-kind contributions, and targeted 

contracting that best meets regional needs

- Focus on technical analyses and support rather than policy or research

- Inclusion of tribes

• RPO scope should expand beyond regional haze to address 

Findings

• RPO scope should expand beyond regional haze to address 

multiple air pollutants (e.g. CSAPR, NAAQS)

• There is a need for national-scale coordination of regional 

technical work and alignment with EPA policies to leverage 

resources and prevent duplication of efforts.

• RPO’s developed tools than can continue to facilitate regional 

air quality work in the future
Next Steps

• Final report was distributed to state & local agencies, 

tribes, RPO and MJO for comment

• Recognizing the increased burden on states and tribes, 

EPA has requested an $82 million increase in STAG 

funding funding for FY2012, r FY2012, but has been unsuccess has been unsuccessful so far in 

securing additional funding

• EPA will follow up to the report with regional 

discussions
Next Steps

• EPA want to engage state & local governments, tribes and 

RPOs & MJOs in a conversation at a regional level on how to 

move forward on regional planning (tentatively January)

o Explore whether RPO and MJO merger is an option in each region

o Identify upcoming regional planning needs and shortfalls of technical 

support in states and tribes

o Discuss ways to support tribal involvement in regional air planning, 

including possible EPA funding for tribal involvement

o Identify ways to achieve efficiencies through joint EPA/RPO 

development of tools and data, aligning with EPA policy (i.e., SIPs)

- EPA coordinates regional air planning activities and provides 

technical training at periodic meetings

- Targeted support of regional tools used by multiple RPOs-MJOs